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National Strike Grips Belgium, Canceling Flights and Shutting Breweries National Strike Grips Belgium, Canceling Flights and Shutting Breweries
(about 3 hours later)
BRUSSELS — A national strike in Belgium over pay and working conditions has led to the cancellation of all flights in and out of the country, halted public transport and prompted blockades outside factories, threatening to bring the country to a standstill on Wednesday.BRUSSELS — A national strike in Belgium over pay and working conditions has led to the cancellation of all flights in and out of the country, halted public transport and prompted blockades outside factories, threatening to bring the country to a standstill on Wednesday.
The 24-hour strike began at 10 p.m. Tuesday, with Belgium’s three main workers’ unions galvanizing their nearly four million members — in a country of about 11 million people — to stop working.The 24-hour strike began at 10 p.m. Tuesday, with Belgium’s three main workers’ unions galvanizing their nearly four million members — in a country of about 11 million people — to stop working.
Government workers also joined the strike, prompting a number of public schools, nurseries and sports facilities to close. Prison guards went on strike and were replaced by police officers in most prisons.Government workers also joined the strike, prompting a number of public schools, nurseries and sports facilities to close. Prison guards went on strike and were replaced by police officers in most prisons.
“What we want is to tell employers, whoever they are, that we’re sick of them putting all the dough that we create in their pockets. It’s time to give some of it back to the workers,” said Robert Verteneuil, president of the General Federation of Belgian Labor, a socialist trade union with about 1.2 million members, on public radio Wednesday morning.“What we want is to tell employers, whoever they are, that we’re sick of them putting all the dough that we create in their pockets. It’s time to give some of it back to the workers,” said Robert Verteneuil, president of the General Federation of Belgian Labor, a socialist trade union with about 1.2 million members, on public radio Wednesday morning.
“People have a need to voice their malaise and their unhappiness with the current situation,” Mr. Verteneuil added.“People have a need to voice their malaise and their unhappiness with the current situation,” Mr. Verteneuil added.
Workers are protesting slow pay raises, which will be limited to 0.8 percent over the next year, he said, and demanding that the government take action.Workers are protesting slow pay raises, which will be limited to 0.8 percent over the next year, he said, and demanding that the government take action.
In Belgium, limits for pay and working conditions are negotiated by workers’ unions and business groups on an annual basis. The government usually translates those terms into policy and law, though some flexibility remains for individual companies to set their own terms. The socioeconomic model is known as Rhine capitalism and exists in Germany, France and other Northern European countries.
It is not clear if any steps will be taken soon to address the workers’ demands because the Belgian federal government fell in December when it lost its majority in Parliament after its biggest coalition partner, the right-wing Flemish party, left in opposition to the planned signing of an international agreement on migration.It is not clear if any steps will be taken soon to address the workers’ demands because the Belgian federal government fell in December when it lost its majority in Parliament after its biggest coalition partner, the right-wing Flemish party, left in opposition to the planned signing of an international agreement on migration.
The country is being led by a caretaker government with a minority in Parliament at least until elections in May.The country is being led by a caretaker government with a minority in Parliament at least until elections in May.
A general strike during the tenure of a caretaker government is unprecedented, experts say.A general strike during the tenure of a caretaker government is unprecedented, experts say.
“What’s happening today is an old ritual game in Belgian politics that everyone knows and that exists since the first such strikes of 1944,” said Bert Kruismans, a political satirist who has written several books on Belgian history and society.“What’s happening today is an old ritual game in Belgian politics that everyone knows and that exists since the first such strikes of 1944,” said Bert Kruismans, a political satirist who has written several books on Belgian history and society.
“Back then, the Belgian government was in exile during the Second World War, forcing workers and employers to negotiate with each other directly on a national level, and for the government to approve their agreements,” Mr. Kruismans said.“Back then, the Belgian government was in exile during the Second World War, forcing workers and employers to negotiate with each other directly on a national level, and for the government to approve their agreements,” Mr. Kruismans said.
“After the war, Belgium kept the system in place and institutionalized it,” he said. “The resulting model, known as ‘Rhine capitalism,’ represents a third way between laissez-faire liberalism and socialism, by combining free market capitalism with fair social policies within a welfare state.”“After the war, Belgium kept the system in place and institutionalized it,” he said. “The resulting model, known as ‘Rhine capitalism,’ represents a third way between laissez-faire liberalism and socialism, by combining free market capitalism with fair social policies within a welfare state.”
Mr. Kruismans said that negotiations between employers and workers broke off this year, when workers rejected the proposed maximum wage raise of 0.8 percent.Mr. Kruismans said that negotiations between employers and workers broke off this year, when workers rejected the proposed maximum wage raise of 0.8 percent.
Prime Minister Charles Michel, in a statement, called for talks between workers and employers to resume on Thursday. But he did not indicate what measures his center-right minority government could take to raise wages.Prime Minister Charles Michel, in a statement, called for talks between workers and employers to resume on Thursday. But he did not indicate what measures his center-right minority government could take to raise wages.
“There is no alternative,” the statement read, “the strike resolves nothing. I would like to thank those who are working today.”“There is no alternative,” the statement read, “the strike resolves nothing. I would like to thank those who are working today.”
The disruptions across the country were considerable.The disruptions across the country were considerable.
Air traffic controllers at Brussels’ two public international airports — in Zaventem and Charleroi — began the work stoppage on Tuesday night, leading to the cancellation of more than 400 flights and a virtual shutdown of the country’s airspace.Air traffic controllers at Brussels’ two public international airports — in Zaventem and Charleroi — began the work stoppage on Tuesday night, leading to the cancellation of more than 400 flights and a virtual shutdown of the country’s airspace.
The breweries AB InBev, which produces Stella Artois, and Hoegaarden, which brews the famous white beer of the same name, were closed for the day.The breweries AB InBev, which produces Stella Artois, and Hoegaarden, which brews the famous white beer of the same name, were closed for the day.
Hundreds of supermarkets were closed, too, because of understaffing or delivery problems. One-third of small- and medium-size enterprises reported problems because of the strikes, according to Unizo, a business group.Hundreds of supermarkets were closed, too, because of understaffing or delivery problems. One-third of small- and medium-size enterprises reported problems because of the strikes, according to Unizo, a business group.
Where teachers did not show up in schools because of troubles with public transport or because they had joined the strike, children were directed to do their homework.Where teachers did not show up in schools because of troubles with public transport or because they had joined the strike, children were directed to do their homework.
About half the nation’s trains were canceled — a significant gap in a country that relies heavily on trains for commuting.About half the nation’s trains were canceled — a significant gap in a country that relies heavily on trains for commuting.
The Antwerp Port said in a statement on Wednesday morning that more than 30 ships were waiting to enter the port, with docking queues growing longer, because some workers did not show up for work.The Antwerp Port said in a statement on Wednesday morning that more than 30 ships were waiting to enter the port, with docking queues growing longer, because some workers did not show up for work.
Mr. Kruismans said that the unions were flexing their muscles ahead of general elections in May to show that “they still count, and that traditional protests can still bring the country to a standstill.”Mr. Kruismans said that the unions were flexing their muscles ahead of general elections in May to show that “they still count, and that traditional protests can still bring the country to a standstill.”
The strike is expected to cost tens of millions of euros to the Belgian economy, and Mr. Verteneuil indicated that he would be prepared to organize more strikes before the coming elections if negotiations did not bring the expected results.The strike is expected to cost tens of millions of euros to the Belgian economy, and Mr. Verteneuil indicated that he would be prepared to organize more strikes before the coming elections if negotiations did not bring the expected results.
“Today’s mind-set is that workers shouldn’t be given anything anymore,” he said.“Today’s mind-set is that workers shouldn’t be given anything anymore,” he said.
“I say that those workers, who produce the economy, who allow wealth to be created — wealth that is currently growing and producing dividends — those workers need to get their fair share,” he added.“I say that those workers, who produce the economy, who allow wealth to be created — wealth that is currently growing and producing dividends — those workers need to get their fair share,” he added.
“Without workers around machines and in the offices, the economy doesn’t work; that’s today’s message,” Mr. Verteneuil said. “And so those workers should be paid the right price.”“Without workers around machines and in the offices, the economy doesn’t work; that’s today’s message,” Mr. Verteneuil said. “And so those workers should be paid the right price.”